Not all people must adapt to a retirement lifestyle. Those who have a vast amount of money and the freedom to choose are not the primary concern of this work. I address middle-income workers and professionals who need to save and invest for retirement. These individuals have to transition from a routine of going to work each day to a life of greater relaxation and adjustment to the travails of aging and loss of a work environment.
If one can learn to combine the carefree attitude of one’s early years with the wisdom gained through experience, the later years can be the most gratifying of all. This freedom from care does not come by itself—it must be learned and prepared for. Preparation should begin while one is still at the peak of one’s earning potential.
The substitute for the work experience has to be addressed early on with both physical and mental preparation.
PHYSICAL ASPECTS
The importance of physical exercise cannot be understated. As health allows, sport activities are important in any retirement regimen. To the amount the body permits, playing a game and working out should be part of any routine. If you can do neither, walking or just rocking in a rocking chair can help. Robust health goes hand-in-hand with a positive attitude.
DIET AND APPEARANCE
The healthy diet that may have been difficult to maintain with the stress of a busy work schedule is now more possible with the greater ease of a retirement schedule. In your retirement years, eating better and keeping active are of prime importance, especially if you dine out more frequently. The maintenance of your desired weight is important for body image acceptance.
Pleasing yourself in appearance goes a long way to bolster self-esteem and radiates attraction. Being comfortable with yourself is of utmost importance in adjusting to your new time of life.
ACTIVITIES
Fulfilling lifelong desires, such as taking more vacations, traveling to interesting places and being involved in activities not possible while working, can help occupy the newfound free time caused by the loss of working hours.
Mental exercise is as important as physical exercise. Being involved with hobbies, whether it’s getting into new ones or just being more committed to old ones, is required to stave off boredom. Boredom is the enemy of the retired state and can be avoided by utilizing an anti-boredom system: start off each day with a to-do list and keep busy. Such lists should have a continuing activity, such as when you are writing or constructing something. Whether it’s writing letters, articles or books or making furniture, these are engrossing and gratifying activities and gratification is the greatest weapon against boredom.
Read each day. Choose newspapers, e-readers, magazines, journals, books, websites or other material. If you can use your computer or smartphone, be involved with family and friends and have discussions. You have more time to do this now. Challenge your mind with puzzles and quizzes.
Always remember that boredom is your enemy. Fight it!
ACCEPTANCE
Adjustment can be just as easily done as said. Older age demands one adjustment after another. Giving up an activity should always be followed by being involved with another one which is easier to do. If you can no longer lift forty pounds, lift twenty, ten or even five, but don’t stop lifting if you can help it. Do not bemoan the fact that you can no longer lift forty pounds. Accept it and move on. There are emotional substitutes. Revel in the fact that you may be smarter or richer than you were when you could lift forty pounds (or some other substitute).
Constantly give yourself encouragement. Be your own therapist. Urge yourself on to do your absolute best at whatever you do while keeping active.
Take advantage of your extra relaxation time and watch your favorite television programs and movies. Go to the theater as often as you can. Being engrossed in lives other than your own broadens your outlook and maintains your interest.
NEW ROLE
Be involved. Whether with hobbies, family, charities, organizations or other group activities, stay active. Don’t ever quit on yourself. Remember, as a senior citizen you have life experience to impart to others. Always feel important and contribute when you can. Although your children may feel that at some point they have surpassed you, you still have a lot to teach them and, perhaps even moreso, your grandchildren.
Spread your love and care around. There are others who need those positive emotions from you. At some level you are revered by those close to you. Never denigrate your self-worth and be free to exhibit your knowledge; don’t feel rejected if it’s not readily accepted. With age they will learn how right you were.
SPIRITUALITY
Retirement should be a time of reflection. It is a time to remember old friends and loved ones by cataloguing photographs and communications; but it is also a time to make some new friends. Be it golfing, card playing, mahjong or book club companions, make new friends. In general, try new things. We must all fight the sense of loss and depression that comes with painful memories and compensate with good times and positive memories. Always grasp onto previous happiness and bring it forward.
If you are inclined, participation in church, temple, synagogue or mosque activities can now be increased. More time is also available for spiritual exercises, like meditation, contemplation, prayer and relaxation techniques like yoga and tai chi, among others.
Build yourself up. You are not older and uglier, you are wiser and perhaps richer. You would not make the same mistakes you did when you were younger, would you? No, you are smarter than you were then. Constantly remind yourself of this.
Keep your spirits up. Don’t give in. No matter how sick or frail you become, don’t give up hoping for better days to come.
STUDY
Retirement can be a time of learning. Many retirees felt that they could not devote adequate time to study during their work and child-rearing years. Now, with the available time you not only can read more but can attend lectures, enroll in classes and even matriculate at a college, institute or technical school if so desired. That unfulfilled goal to obtain a long-sought-after degree is now possible. Many harbor a love of learning which might not be satisfied in younger years and can be accommodated in later life.
Gaining new knowledge is self-fulfilling and gratifying, especially in a stress-free environment. Not needing to please teachers or worrying about tests or grades, the retiree is free to pursue what he or she wants to learn without any outside constraints. Differing from many prior school experiences, devoid of social and other pressures endured at an earlier age, learning can be a pleasure.
The range of individual desires is endless. One can increase expertise in rebuilding automobile engines, re-experience historical events or enhance
